This week’s mystery movie was the 1941 Paramount picture The Road to Zanzibar, with Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Dorothy Lamour, Una Merkel, Eric Blore, Douglass Dumbrille, Iris Adrian and Lionel Royce.
Screenplay by Frank Butler and Don Hartman.
Based on a story by Don Hartman and Sy Bartlett.
Photographed by Ted Tetzlaff.
Art direction by Hans Dreier and Robert Usher.
Edited by Alma Macrorie.
Costumes by Edith Head.
Sound by Earl Hayman and Don Johnson.
Musical direction by Victor Young.
Musical advisor Arthur Franklin.
Lyrics by Johnny Burke.
Music by Jimmy Van Heusen.
Musical numbers staged by LeRoy Prinz.
Produced by Paul Jones.
Directed by Victor Schertzinger.
Further information on The Road to Zanzibar is available from the AFI Catalog.
The Road to Zanzibar is available on DVD and Blu-ray from Critics’ Choice Video.
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I picked The Road to Zanzibar because it never comes up in the TCM rotation of “Road” films and I had never seen it. I’m not a huge fan of them or of Bob Hope, but I have to admit that the chemistry between Bing Crosby and Bob Hope was excellent and that Hope was more of an actor and less Bob Hope, if you know what I mean. The latter part of the movie is of the cannibals cooking missionaries in big pots brand of humor, which has aged poorly, and I skipped that entirely.
I cannot imagine Bosley Crowther approving of this picture. The question is how much did he hate it? Well. I guess he had a sense of humor after all. (The New York Times, April 10, 1941):
Pity the poor motion picture which ever again sets forth on a perilous (?) African safari, now that Bing Crosby and Bob Hope have traversed the course! For the cheerful report this morning is that the Messrs. Crosby and Hope, with an able left-handed assist from a denatured Dorothy Lamour, have thoroughly ruined the Dark Continent for any future cinematic pursuits.
For Monday, we have a mysterious fellow. He does not approve of such goings-on.
Update: This is Bing Crosby and Bob Hope as Back of the Head guy.
For “Tricky Tuesday,” we have a mysterious fellow. His companion has been cropped out due to insufficient mysteriousness and will appear later in the week.
Update: For Friday, adding mystery companion who was cropped out due to insufficient mysteriousness.
Update: This is Douglass Dumbrille and Dorothy Lamour.
For “Hm Wednesday,” we have a jovial mystery guest offering a toast. He approves of such goings-on!
Update: This is Eric Blore.
Brain Trust roll call: Richard Wegescheide (Monday’s mystery fellow and Back of the Head Guy).
For “Aha Thursday,” we have a mysterious woman.
Update: This is Una Merkel.
Brain Trust roll call: Anne Papineau (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Blackwing Jenny (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Sylvia E. (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Mary Mallory (Wednesday’s mysterious bon vivant), Howard Mandelbaum (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Chrisbo (Wednesday’s mysterious bon vivant), B.J. Merholz (mystery movie), Mike Hawks (mystery movie and all mystery guests), L.C. (mystery movie and mysterious cast), Sheila (Wednesday’s mysterious bon vivant) and Bruce (Wednesday’s mysterious bon vivant).
For Friday, we have two mysterious fellows.
Update: This is Bing Crosby, left, and Bob Hope.
Brain Trust roll call: Sylvia E. (Tuesday’s mystery fellow and Thursday’s mystery woman), Mary Mallory (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Howard Mandelbaum (Thursday’s mystery guests), Anne Papineau (Thursday’s mystery guest), Benito (mystery movie, Monday’s mystery guest and Wednesday’s mysterious bon vivant), Mike Hawks (Thursday’s mystery woman), Dan Nather (mystery movie and Wednesday’s and Thursday’s mystery guests) and Thom and Megan (mystery movie, Tuesday’s, Wednesday’s and Thursday’s mystery guests).
ladailymirror.com 
Jimmy Durante?
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Interesting guess. Alas, I’m afraid not.
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Jack Benny
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One vote for Jack Benny!
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Looks like Ralph Bellamy…cowboy hat makes me think “The Awful Truth.”
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Interesting guess! Alas, I’m afraid not.
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Could this be Sam Levene?
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Another interesting guess! Alas, I’m afraid not.
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Jack Benny?
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Two votes for Jack Benny!
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Billy Barty.
Don’t know why.
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Very interesting guess, but alas, I’m afraid not.
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On Tuesday, Frank Lackteen?
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Good guess! But alas….
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Is Monday Bud Abbott?
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Alas, I’m afraid not. Good guess!
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Thing I know: Today’s guy is Mischa Auer. Things I’m guessing at: Monday’s guy is Allyn Joslyn and the movie is “Spring Parade.”
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Excellent guess. But alas….
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George Coulouris. I call’m like I see’m.
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An excellent guess! But alas…
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I’m going to reach, but I think that’s Leon Belasco on Tuesday, Bing Crosby with ink on his face on Monday and Bob Hope as the back of head guy in ‘Road to Morocco’.
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Frank Lackteen.
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That’s two votes for Frank Lackteen, but alas….
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Is today’s guest Curt Bois?
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An excellent guess, but alas…
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On Monday, Bing Crosby (left) and Bob Hope (BOTHG) yucking it up in “Road to Zanzibar.” Eric Blore on Wednesday. Still trying to ID Tuesday’s Arabic chap.
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Well at least I know Eric Blore!
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Well, now we have Eric Blore for our Wednesday guest.
No idea of the picture, yet. Feels like a Hope Crosby “Road” picture, but I don’t think any of them would be a mystery movie – too well known. Blore appeared in some of those, though…hmmmmm. Thinking cap on.
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Oh my, a surprise for a mystery movie.
“Road to Zanzibar”
Monday – I think Bing Crosby is our splashed on guy and Bob Hope as BOTHG. Found an image of a different angle.
Tuesday – still searching
Wednesday – Eric Blore
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NEW YORK TOWN. Akim Tamiroff BOTH Monday with Robert Preston, Oliver Blake Tuesday, and Eric Blore today.
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Bing Crosby in Road To Zanzibar (1941). Bob Hope on right.
Wednesday: Eric Blore
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Tuesday: Douglass Dumbrille.
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Hmmm… is that Eric Blore Wednesday
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I forgot my GPS and went up the wrong road and missed Zanzibar by days.
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Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Douglass Dumbrille and Eric Blore in ROAD TO ZANZIBAR.
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Road to Zanzibar (1941) w/Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Dorothy Lamour, Eric Blore, Douglas Dumbrille, Una Merkle…
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Eric Blore on Wednesday.
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It’s not New York Town?
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Wednesday looks like Eric Blore
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It’s Road to Zanzibar! Monday I insulted Bing Crosby by thinking he was Bud Abbott-but it’s that other duo-and Bob Hope.
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For Tuesday’s guy I’ll guess either Douglass Dumbrille or Luis Alberni. I’m leaning towards Alberni.
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ROAD TO ZANZIBAR. Bing Crosby and BOTH Bob Hope Monday, Paul Porcasi Tuesday, Eric Blore yesterday, and Una Merkel today.
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Una Merkel!
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Eric Blore, best known as the eccentric butler in Fred n Ginger movies
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Una Merkel.
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Based on that hat, Bing Crosby is Monday’s messy man in ROAD TO ZANZIBAR 1941
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Bing Crosby on Monday in ROAD TO ZANZIBAR 1941
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Thursday’s polka dot lady: Zasu Pitts?
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Una Merkel.
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Thursday – Una Merkel
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Eric Blore yesterday and Una Merkel today make this ROAD TO ZANZIBAR (1941). Now I’m going to rewatch the movie to find out Monday’s mystery guest . . .
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Our movie is Road to Zanzibar. We meant to put Eric Blore in yesterday. Una Merkel is our guest today, and possibly Douglass Dumbrille for Tuesday.
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Douglas Dumbrille and Dorothy Lamour, Bing and Bob today.
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Dorothy Lamour revealed. Bing Crosby without the splash covering his face. Bob Hope inside the cannon.
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Dorothy Lamour with Bob and Bing.
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Dorothy Lamour; Bing Crosby, Bob Hope.
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So, Bob and Bing make this “The Road to Zanzibar”
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